PATNA - The fear of another drought is giving sleepless nights to farmers in Bihar as an official said that if the state receives 19 percent less than normal rainfall, there could be a possibility of a drought-like situation. Millions of farmers, nearly two-thirds of Bihar's population of 10.5 crore, are dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Not only that, nearly two-thirds of all agricultural activities in the state are dependent on rain.

Therefore, for most of the state's population, a good monsoon is often the difference between life and death. According to the India Meteorological Department office in Patna, nearly 70 percent of Bihar's districts, 22 out of 38, are facing a drought-like situation due to poor rainfall. In these districts, rainfall deficit is from 21 to 73 percent. Last year, the Bihar government declared 33 of the 38 districts drought-hit due to a rainfall deficit of nearly 25 percent.